I know January is a time to tighten belts and keep our purses firmly shut but seriously, recession in Vogue? Really?!?!?!?
Since 2008 and the birth of the recession, frugality has been mentioned very little in Vogue. Why should it? Vogue make a fortune from advertisers like Marc Jacobs, Dior and Erdem for whom a mention of the recession is dangerous business. They don't want to remind the shopping reader that we should be careful not crazy because they don't buy and if they don't buy then people don't advertise. Simple.
So Vogue have published 'How We Shop now' on page 77 of the February issue. The article, written by Emily Sheffield talks about how we have become item shoppers and not occasion shoppers. We have stopped buying for fun and started to buy to save money. Case in point? Sheffield wails on about not being able to afford to go crazy in shops but she allows herself to buy a pair of Prada shoes on the basis that she will wear them forever.
While I do agree with the idea. I've worked in retail a long while and I have noticed a change in post boom time shopping - we are more careful now - I don't know many people who are upset about having to justify Prada shoes. Get real.
This is the Vogue idea of recession proofing your wardrobe. Stop buying crap and start investing. Actually, they may be on to something. The article however seems torn between giving good advice about accessories being used to build an old outfit and buying expensive new items. It cannot decide if it wants to tell you to buy carefully or not at all.
With her Vogue paycheck no doubt burning a hole in her Prada pocket - it seems Sheffield has lost touch with the common wage. I don't know anyone who is in a position to 'invest' in a Preen coat pre sale on the hope she will wear it all of the time. In fact most people I know have to budget a new Topshop item and try really hard to afford that.
She does make a couple of great points if you remove all the advertiser's names from the piece :
1 - Investment buy and buy carefully. It doesn't have to be designer but rather something that stands the test of time. Buy things that are not distinctive to trends. I refer to the weird trend for critic fruits that was around almost two summers ago. Cute at the time but O.V.E.R now. Rather then buy something from a season that is trend based, look at a way to get in on a trend in a more timeless way.
2 - Fix things. If something rips then repair it. Don't throw it away because you don't know where to fix it or can't be bothered. If you cannot fix it yourself then pay someone to do it for you! It's not that expensive.
3 - Be clever with accessories. A black dress can be instantly updated with more modern accessory pieces. Why not add a colorful belt or some statement earrings to bring your outfit into more SS13?
4 - Shop and shop carefully. Shop around for the best bargain. Don't just settle because it is there but look around. Use comparison sites for electronics or ask friends for recommendations for cheaper deals. Sign up to coupon sites.
5 - Edit. Take all the stuff you no longer wear and put it on Ebay. If you can't sell it on ebay then take it to a charity shop and leave it there!
6 - Sales can sometimes not be your friends. Be careful while sale shopping. It is easy to buy because it looks like it might be amazing but if your not careful then you can waste valuable dollars on things you will never wear but bought because they were half off.
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